Looking for Something to do Over the Break?

The Child Learning and Development Lab of Amherst College is looking for kids ages 8-10 to participate in a fun, 30 minute research study exploring their understanding of luck. Check out the video at: http://tinyurl.com/joqcqgc

Kids earn a $5 gift card or a small prize for their participation.
Contact: cladlab@amherst.edu or 413-542-5670 
Appointments are scheduled with family convenience in mind.

Studies take place on the Amherst College campus, where you will be provided with a reserved parking spot and access to the free Mead Art Museum following your participation in the study.

Art Museum Hours:
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 28, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 29, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 30, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.

6th Annual Amherst College Baseball 2017 Winter Instructional Clinic

26th Annual Amherst College Baseball 2017 Winter Instructional Clinic

Dear Coaches,

We hope that you enjoyed the excitement of the MLB season and that you and your teams had successful seasons. This email is in regard to the 2017 Amherst College Baseball Winter Instructional Clinic. For the seventh straight year we have been able to keep the clinic fee constant to encourage attendance. Some of your players participated in last year’s winter clinic and we hope that you will forward this information to your team so that you have more participation this year.

The purpose of the instructional clinic is to provide an environment where participants develop their baseball skills while having fun. Players will participate in small groups and will be given individual attention and instruction by college coaches and college players.

The clinic will take place in Calvin Coolidge Cage at Amherst College. There will be sessions for two age groups. With the younger group (ages 9-13), we concentrate on basic techniques to help participants develop proper mechanics and to build their confidence. There will be competitive and fun games for the participants to use what they have learned and to challenge their skills.

With the older group (14-16), we concentrate on individual techniques and skills they will need to master in order to compete at the college level. We will teach techniques and drills that participants can practice at home or in small groups, as well as use in game situations.

Session 1 - Hitting Clinic

All Age Groups (ages 9 – 16): Monday, January 16 (6:30 – 8:15 p.m.)

* Clinic will be divided into two sections for age groups 9-13 & 14-16

                                                          

Session 2 - Pitching & Positional Play (catching, infield, outfield)

All Age Groups (ages 9 – 16): Wednesday, January 18 (6:30 – 8:15 p.m.)

       * Clinic will be divided into two sections for age groups 9-13 & 14-16

Cost for attending one session: $60

Cost for attending two sessions: $110

To register for the clinic, please fill out and submit the online registration form that can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/jlgwwmp

For questions, call: 413-542-2284

Information and clinic details will be sent to participants upon registration.

Florence Bank Community Choice Grants: Get Out the Vote!

Dear Crocker Farm Families,

The PGOs of the ARPS PGO (CF, WW, ARMS, & ARHS) are campaigning together in the hope of getting at least the minimum 50 votes to earn money through the Florence Bank grants program. Each Florence Bank account holder is eligible to vote once for the community organization of his or her choice. 

The ARPS PGO is urging Florence Bank customers to consider voting for the "Amherst Regional Public Schools PGO," the name of our joint 501(c)3 organization.  

You can vote in the following ways:
1. Online: Visit Florencebank.com/Vote to view the online voting site cast a vote online. Please note: The ARPS PGO does not appear among the list of organizations in the auto-complete dropdown menu on this website, but you can type in "Amherst Regional Public Schools PGO" in the organization box to vote for the PGOs.
2. Facebook: Visit Facebook.com/FlorenceBank, click on the Customers' Choice Community Grants tab to learn more about the program and cast your vote.
3. Paper Ballots: See attached templates. Ballots are available through the PGOs or at any Florence Bank location. 

Voting is open through Dec 31, 2016, but why wait. Please vote today.  

Thank you!

A 21st Century Nutcracker: Dec. 18th!

Join The Center Dance in Amherst on Sunday, Dec. 18, for an exciting spin on a wintertime classic, a 21st Century Nutcracker, incorporating dance styles from across the globe (and right next door!) set to Tchaikovsky's timeless score.

Curtains will rise in the Amherst Regional High School auditorium at 4:30 p.m. Purchase tickets online (www.thecenterdance.com) or at The Center Dance Studio (321 Main Street, Amherst).

Ticket Prices: Advance: $10/general public, $8/seniors & children 12 and under
At Door: $12/general public, $10/seniors & children 12 and under
Also check out: https://www.facebook.com/events/1741743726151503/

Amherst Ballet show in Northampton: Dec. 15 & 16

Snegurochka – The Snow Maiden

This season-cycle tale is based on 19^th century Russian folk tales and is set to music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, originally written as incidental music for the play of the same name by Alexandr Ostrovsky.

Snegurochka is the daughter of Father Frost. She has grown up in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow and spends her time in the forest playing with her animal friends. Father Frost has warned her not to go into the village. One day in the forest she encounters Boris, a young man from the village. They fall in love. When spring returns she melts in his arms The Maiden of Spring reassures Boris that just as spring follows winter, winter will come again and Snegurochka will return to him.

December 15 & 16, 2016

7:00pm at the Academy of Music, Northampton

Tickets available through the Academy of Music box office

*Parking for the performance is in the Lower Lot behind the Academy, or in the Northampton Parking Garage

Aomtheatre.ticketfly.com

Multi-Arts Children’s Theater Company presents “The First Connection”: Dec. 9

“The First Connection” is a hilarious play about aliens trying to take over Earth. It is an entertaining and inspiring play where the unexpected happens: Friday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m., at the Northampton Community Music Center (NCMC), 139 South St, Northampton, MA. Donations accepted to benefit NCMC and the Northampton Patent’s Center.

 

The playwright, Xinef D'Agnos, an alum of Multi-Arts, is a published author, and writer who has written and directed several plays for Multi-Arts summer camp. Mr. D’Agnos also teaches creative writing workshops to adults for a youth development program, and works with social justice initiatives though the creative arts. He is also a choir director, and acting director of the arts at Hope Community Church of Amherst. 

 

Sonia Arrubla is the artistic director of the Multi-Arts Children’s Theater Company. A former Colombian theater and television actor, Sonia graduated from New York University’s prestigious Film and Television MFA program in 2001.

She currently works as a theater director and film editor. Her short films have won various international awards.  

 

Multi-Arts, a non-profit organization, has been offering world-class, innovative performing arts programming for children ages 4 to12 for over 16 years. Its mission is to introduce the arts to all children, regardless of their financial status and/or ethnic background, and to present the children’s work to the larger community. Classes are taught by internationally renowned performers and teachers who work side by side with the children to create original theater productions integrating several arts into a single project. For more information, please visit www.multi-arts.org. 

Winter's Work, Dec 3: A percentage of proceeds go to Standing Rock!

ARMS PGO Online Amherst Merchandise Store Closes This Week

Last chance to stock up for the holidays!!  

Just in time for your holiday shopping, the ARMS PGO is hosting an online store with a range of Amherst apparel and accessories, to help you show your Amherst pride and support the ARMS community.  The store is now open, but it is closing soon – orders will only be accepted through midnight on Sunday, December 4.  Purchases will be available for distribution to ARMS students (and pick up by all others) at ARMS on December 19 and 20, in time for the holidays.  The store can be accessed at: https://amherstregionalmiddleschool.itemorder.com/sale  If you have any questions, please contact Amy Sweeting at amysweeting@yahoo.com.

Winter Coat Drive & Clothing Share - Coming Soon

Collection boxes for the Coat Drive are now out in the main Crocker Farm lobby in the parent-pickup/preK foyer. All sizes are needed. Warm coats, boots, & snowpants are especially in demand.

The Crocker Farm PGO is still seeking volunteers to help with the distribution setup afterschool on Nov 29th & with staffing on our distribution days, Nov 30th & Dec 1st. If you can help for an hour or two, or more, please contact Tracy at tmz23@zafian.com.   

School & community families are welcome to look for what they need during the distribution days.  At Crocker Farm, the giveaway of what's been collected will happen during school hours on the 30th & 1st, and we'll have afterschool hours on the 30th. 

For other locations, please check the flyer for dates/times. 

Thank you.  

 

(click to enlarge)